September 4, 2017--La Escuela y CEBs

Rebecca Wilson

Yesterday, thanks to internet access, I read about the decision of President Trump to end DACA. The fact that I am sitting freely in a classroom in Mexico pondering this news is another blatant example of my privilege as a white citizen of the United States with a U.S. issued passport. 

In class this morning, in addition to grammar lessons, we talked at length about the reasons why one would decide to migrate to the United States, particularly without documentation; traveling by night through hot deserts, raging rivers, or polluted tunnels. The dream of a better life is the driving factor.

The minimum wage in Mexico is $80 pesos a day or roughly $4.00-5.00 US Dollars. Since NAFTA began in the 90's many Mexican farmers have been forced out of business and it is cheaper for Mexicans to purchase rice and beans produced in the U.S. 

Currently in Mexico the cost of rice produced outside of Mexico is $10-15 pesos per kilogram. Rice produced in Mexico costs $25-30 pesos for the same amount. How can this be?

The states in Mexico with the highest rates of poverty are also those most affected by drugs and narco-trafficking. This surely isn't coincidence.

When I was in seminary I interned with Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) of Southeast Michigan. I spent several Saturdays making photocopies of the hundreds of pages of documents that young people needed simply to apply for DACA. Today I remember their faces.

As part of the internship I also participated in a detention center visitation program. Twice a month we visited with immigrants being held in detention centers, many waiting deportation. The men were from Mexico and other Latin American countries (and from African countries). We were there only to listen. The stories we heard of why one would risk coming to the U.S. and the danger one faced on the journey were heartbreaking. Today I remember their voices.

Today I pray, God, help us to welcome and care for our neighbors, whether they've been here since birth or arrived last week. Amen.

Denise and Cynthia

Rev. Brad Walston

Cuernavaca Thoughts Day 4 

Liberate the oppressor? 

I am constantly inspired by the people around me on this trip. Today, I was particularly inspired by one of the older gentlemen. His wife is also with us, and I don’t want to “out” him, but those who know him are likely to recognize who I’m talking about. I have met and have spoken with this guy every time all the pastors get together for conferences and other clergy events for the last 7 years, but I never saw him in this light before, nor have I had an opportunity to get to know him. This very healthy 84-year-old has been clergy for 60 or so years and is continually searching for more insight. He sees God in everything. He and his wife are right with all of us younger folks, walking in the rain, on the cobblestones, riding the public transportation, everywhere. Everyday so far, I have watched him listening intently to the professors (who teach almost exclusively in Spanish). He came on this trip without one word of Spanish. (I, on the other hand, crammed for two months!).His thoughts and comments are often profoundly spiritual and compassionate. This evening we visited a shelter and small church for hurting and homeless LGBTQ people. And this guy blew me away with a compassion and an empathy one rarely sees in very many older folks – or any folks! From the civil rights movement through the feminist movement to the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community, he’s been there. He remembers. After the presentation, he said that the civil rights march was as much about liberating the white people from their ignorance and fear as it was about liberating black people. And the feminist movement was as much about liberating men as it was about the women. And it’s the same with the LGBTQ rights movement. It’s as much about liberating the heterosexuals who are ignorant and fearful as it is about the homosexuals. Our compassion has to be for all – the oppressed and the oppressor. For who is the victim of sin? Both the sinner and the victim. Yes, we must free the oppressed, but we must also break the chains of ignorance and fear that imprison the oppressor.

Cuernavaca Thoughts day 6

Have you ever noticed that things sound better in a different language? Take the old song, Besame Mucho, for example. In English, the closest translation is “Kiss Me A Lot” – how romantic!

Salchicha Diablo. A Mexican dish made with chili and “Salchicha.” I think it just sounds delicious and rather fancy, albeit spicy. However, in real life, Salchicha Diablo is hot dogs sautéed with red chili. Hot dogs! 

I went back to visit the church/shelter (I shouldn’t need to write it that way; the church IS a shelter, right?) for LGBTQ people this afternoon as I felt the Spirit’s nudge to be there for some reason. I learned just how much I still have to learn when it comes to Spanish, but I was also struck by something far more important: the breaking of bread with a neighbor is a Holy moment. The Last Supper was a holy moment that we remember once a month in church. But it’s also holy when we share a meal with other people, and it occurred to me that the simplest of meals in the shabbiest of places becomes a holy moment on sacred ground just by the sharing of it. You don’t even have to do anything “churchy,” really, because God knows what you’re doing and the Spirit comes before – preparing the way – softening whatever barriers there might be. In the fellowship of food and drink, God shows up. Hot dogs and chili becomes Salchicha Diablo (a little ironic...), and the poor condition of the surroundings becomes divine. In the moment of sharing, even a red Solo up becomes holy vessel. 

The same is true with us. No matter what has happened to us in life – no matter how beat up and shabby we might feel – when we love our neighbor, and I mean all the different versions of neighbor, the least of these, we ourselves become more holy. We begin to see and hear with the eyes and ears of Jesus. We don’t see the shabby walls and floor. We don’t see hot dogs and chili; we see a church of God and Salchicha Diablo.

Learning about Caminando Unidos

Bishop Karen Oliveto 

At the close of the day, we had our devotions. To center ourselves, people went around the room and said a word that described what we were feeling. Mine was, "Mind blown."

What a rich day it has been! After class we visited a progressive school for at risk and vulnerable children--Caminando Unidos. Monica, one of the school's staff, explained about the school's values that were embedded into everything they do. They included things like:

• Be impeccable with my words--live what I say
• Do not make assumptions 
• Do not take things personally 
• Always do my best. 
• Express gratitude for what we have
• Practice Emotional sphincter (yes, that is what they called it. They explain it to the children in very earthy terms!)
• Cooperation not competition
• Control my my inner fire

The creativity found in the school was plainly evident. She told us that even though the school is more than 25 years, it is always evolving. She explained: "We're always changing what we do at the school, because the community's and people's needs are always changing".

Wow! Imagine if we practiced this intentionally in our churches? Imagine how entwined the church would be in people's lives, because they knew it was responsive and responding to the changing circumstances of their lives?

My wonder continued as we listened to members of a Christian Base Community (in Spanish, the initials are CEBs) give us background about the movement in order to prepare us for a Bible study with them tomorrow night. The leader of a CEBs is called an animator. They are laity who receive training to provide leadership. An animator is described as an adult education leadership role for the
 "community development process, rather than using more restrictive terms such as facilitator or organizer.  Animator is an appropriate term for the church, as it is derived from the Latin, animus, meaning spirit.  Therefore, an animator is one who breathes spirit into or who enlivens the spirit  within a person or group.  The term is also consistent with the facilitative style of leadership provided within the community development process."

Animator! I like that term! I want to see whole churches filled with animators!

Rev. Dr. Youngsook Kang

Pozole: Language, Food and Culture

As I learn Spanish, I am reminded how intimately the language is connected to its culture. One fascinating example is how we name the meals that we eat each day.

I was fascinated by the many different names of meals there are in Spanish (las comidas). Guess how many meals are there a day?  Six different names of meals!!  Here is the list of meals we learned in the class.

Morning: (6am-1pm)

El desaynuno (breakfast)

El alnuerzo (morning snack or brunch) –

Afternoon (between 1-4pm)

La botana  (light lunch or afternoon snack)

La comida (main lunch/big dinner)

Evening (between 7pm-11pm)

La Merienda (light supper)

La Cena (main dinner)

Both in the United States (where I live) and in Korea (where I was born and grew up), most people keep up with a schedule of three meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We try to fit our eating schedule in to our work schedule.  Someone here said it is the opposite in Mexico. Mexicans work around their eating schedule and these traditional eating patterns came from Spain (I hope I heard it right!).

So, for instance, our class goes from 9am till 12 noon.  Then, we break for morning snack (el aluerzo) between 11 and 12pm.  Then we usually have a time of reflection or lecture from 12:20 till 2:30pm. After the early lecture, our main lunch/dinner time (la comida) begins!  We take 2 to 3 hour “La Comida” break.  The longest meal break is in the middle of the afternoon here as opposed to dinner time in the United States.

La Comida is followed by an afternoon or evening schedule that starts between 4pm and 5pm and our day usually ends around 7 or 8pm.  

Now that we are talking about food, let me mention “Pozole.”  It was the first time that I was introduced to pozole here in Mexico. When we visited Taxco, a small town in the state of Guerrero, we ate la Comida at a restaurant called Tia Calla.

I ordered Pozole Verde de Pollo (Green Chicken Pozole) and loved it.  It is made from hominy (white corn) with meat such as pork or chicken. It is garnished with avocado, limes, and onion and other things. 

Language, food and culture are interconnected.  They influence one another. Language is part of a certain culture, and so is food. I love the way that Spanish language is influenced by its food and culture and vice versa.  I know I am going to order pozole again when I return to Mexico!

Curtis Gay

Wonderful day on Sunday– just slouched around in the a.m. and got ready to go to the Mariachi Cathedral for church.

Went in with classmates and just basked in the experience of worship without responsibility. In spite of the huge echo, the songs and responsive songs were just wonderful to listen to.  The hymn played by the Mariachi band during communion brought tears to several of our eyes.

I remember years ago when about every quarter a metro church would volunteer to create a worship setting and clergy or others that were always involved in executing services on Sunday could come and just relax into worship – not a bad idea.

Today, started off with our new teacher, Mario.  Great guy.  Good teacher.

Then off to a place called Caminando Unidos.  A school for kids of many ages with the commonality that they are disadvantaged and may have suffered at the hands of violence.  Wonderful place with direction, values, and kids whose parents even attended there.  They learn/get nutrician, personal hygene, medical assistance, honesty, dignity, respect, responsibility and much much more.  The staff there deserve much credit.  Not once did we hear anyone say, Shuush, or excuse me, we’re having a meeting – it was a great experience. 

Then a session with a Catholic Eccumenical group named CEB’s . . . who are trying to connect with people from their communities.  They are wrestling with many of the problems churches are having and determined to nurture and include those who may attend church but may not.  They insist that the dispossessed have a united voice in improving their situation with education, programs, and friendship.  Great group of people, but much to do – everywhere.

Pat with Monica from the school

Rev. Pat Johnson

My favorite part of today was visiting Caminando Unidos. It is a community program that offers daycare, a school, and many services for the people of the area. At one time the people who lived by the railroad were given free land if they protected the rails from being stolen. There was a need for an organization to help the people who live there give their children better chances for an education and teach a different way to navigate the world they live in.

What impressed me the most is that the children and youth solve their own challenges. They have 4 agreements. To be impeccable in my words, thinking, doing and promises. Don't assume what others are thinking. Don't take things personally. Always do my best. They also have a conduct code. Have gratefulness. Have an emotional sphincter ( control my emotions). Cooperation instead of competition. ( compete with yourself to do your best). Control my inner fire. (Remember who I am, my identity, my soul).  There is much more about this program is love to tell you!

Rev. Kim James

Today was an interesting day in Cuernavaca.  It began with a Spanish lesson that included conversation about Mexican history, difficulties with government, trade, the decreasing value of Mexican crops, and the loss of small-farm ownership and family connections.  Can you imagine what it would be like to live where 75% of the people are in poverty?  Can you imagine a minimum wage that earns you 80 pesos in 8 hours, but costs you 16 of them to ride the bus to work and back?  (80 pesos is about $5.00 US).  As a result, more people have looked for hope in migrating to the US.  Others have succumbed to virtual slavery to large-scale drug operations in order to survive financially.  Those who have tried to oppose or tell the story of what is happening have been murdered or have been "disappeared".

Fortunately, that rather sad lesson was balanced by the hopefulness of a non-profit organization we visited mid-day.  Caminando Unidos is like a fantastic boys and girls club for a community of very poor and underprivileged children.  This program has made an amazing difference in children's lives for 26 years.  Where once only 20% of the children and youth were in school, now 80% are.

In the evening, we learned about Ecclesial Base Communities (CEBs).  This laity-led ministry uses Bible study to promote the well-being of neighbors, meeting their needs by gaining their own participation.   I especially liked one saying: "When the poor believe in the poor, then we will have salvation".  May we who are richer also believe in the potential of the poor, especially as we assist them in their struggle for survival.